The work of John Lowrie Morrison, known as “Jolomo” is instantly recognisable for its style and high-key colour. He is most commonly known for his paintings of the West coast of Scotland and his iconic red roofed crofts however this exhibition reveals where he was inspired by the colours that have made him renowned for over 50 years.

'Heavy Snowfall, Huémoz Vaud, Switzerland', 16"x20"

John’s decision to paint in high-key colour wasn’t made in Kintyre, or on the Isle of Skye, or in any of the places he is famous for painting. It was made in an alpine meadow in Switzerland. 

Taking us back to when John was a student at Glasgow School of Art in the Summer of 1970. He and his and wife-to-be, Maureen, and an architect friend, Ian Mclean, drove to Switzerland. During their visit they went to visit Fellowship in Huémoz, the Christian study centre founded by the philosopher and theologian Francis Schaeffer. 

“We drove from Glasgow in Ian’s white Triumph Vitesse,” he remembers. 

“It was a great trip. One day we went up one of the mountains and were sitting in this high meadow in the long grass, it was just wonderful, like something out of The Sound of Music. I remember saying to myself, I love this high-key colour, this is the way I’m going to go with my painting.”

'Huémoz Church, Vaud, Switzerland', 24"x24"

Polaroids from John & Maureen's 1970 trip to Huémoz Church, Switzerland

John worked in art education for 25 years before he began to fulfil his dream to paint full-time. Throughout his career he has not forgotten the decision he made on the mountain and, when he began to exhibit regularly in the mid 1990s, expressive colour became his trademark.

Since then, he has had many sell-out exhibitions and has been the subject of two major retrospectives. He received an OBE for services to art and charity in Scotland in 2010. This year, he has fulfilled another promise he made himself in the alpine meadow more than 50 years ago: to paint the landscape of Switzerland.

Jolomo’s current exhibition, here at The Glasgow Gallery, depicts the history behind his artistic journey and his passion for colour going back to where it began in the 70’s. Johns first paintings of Switzerland hang alongside work of Scotland’s West coast, which still remains his favourite place to paint.

Jolomo: 'From Switzerland to The Western Isles' continues until 23rd November. 

The Isle of Jura looking from Kintyre, 18"x32"